I was reading today in Mark 13, a passage commonly known as the Olivet Discourse. It is here that Jesus speaks extensively about His second coming. This is a parallel passage to Matthew 24-25. The events that Jesus speak of will transpire at the end of this age, when He comes again to the earth to establish His kingdom to rule and reign for one thousand years upon the earth.
I am convinced that the Bible clearly teaches that the church, those who are born again, will be raptured (taken out of this world) prior to the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming. I do not plan to be here for that which Jesus speaks of in this passage, but it does offer great insight for our current generation. As we look at all that Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse, one would have to conclude that we are nearing that day. I am interested in the closing verses of Mark 13. They have a profound application for us even today.
Mark 13:34-37
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Clearly the Lord reveals that He would leave this earth and take a far journey, which He did as He ascended back to the Father after His glorious resurrection. He left His house (the church) and gave authority to His servants, and every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. That thought is what spoke profoundly to me. We have been left with the care of the church. We have been left with a work to do. We are commanded to be watching and earnestly expecting His coming.
Isn't that a humbling thought. We have been entrusted with a work that was so important to our Lord that He was willing to die upon the cross of Calvary. He came to offer Himself the perfect, atoning sacrifice for sin so that humanity might have the opportunity of salvation. As He left, He instructed the disciples with the Great Commission. We have been left with the responsibility to share the gospel and, through His help and guidance, maintain the church. We are expected to keep the house in order so that at his coming He would be pleased with the state of affairs within the church.
I fear that many are sleeping on the job. We need to wake out of sleep and get busy with the work we've been left to accomplish. I have no reason to doubt that He could come for the church at any moment. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. There is a work to do, but are we fulfilling all that our Lord expects of us? If He were to come today, what would He have to say to us? Would He be pleased with our efforts? Have we honestly done all that we should? Are we genuinely living each day with full expectation of His coming?
We have been given the glorious privilege of serving the Lord and representing Him in our generation. It is an honor to be able to serve the Lord. I have to pause and wonder though if we are the ambassadors we should be. If all the world knew of Jesus is what they saw of Him in me, how much would they actually know of Him? Is there anything in my life that would reflect the Lord in such a way that the world would desire to know Him? I have been left with a work to do, and if you are a child of God, you have as well. I want to be found faithful and busy when the Lord calls for me. I pray that the church will wake from sleep and sense the urgency of our day. It is time for us to diligently labor for our Lord and seek to reach others while there is still time. This life is brief and we must work while it is day! I really can't comprehend eternity, but I know that it will be a long, long time. Each of us will spend that eternity somewhere. Church, let's commit to reaching the lost and dying so they too will have the privilege of eternity in heaven!
Preacher Chris
I am convinced that the Bible clearly teaches that the church, those who are born again, will be raptured (taken out of this world) prior to the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming. I do not plan to be here for that which Jesus speaks of in this passage, but it does offer great insight for our current generation. As we look at all that Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse, one would have to conclude that we are nearing that day. I am interested in the closing verses of Mark 13. They have a profound application for us even today.
Mark 13:34-37
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Clearly the Lord reveals that He would leave this earth and take a far journey, which He did as He ascended back to the Father after His glorious resurrection. He left His house (the church) and gave authority to His servants, and every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. That thought is what spoke profoundly to me. We have been left with the care of the church. We have been left with a work to do. We are commanded to be watching and earnestly expecting His coming.
Isn't that a humbling thought. We have been entrusted with a work that was so important to our Lord that He was willing to die upon the cross of Calvary. He came to offer Himself the perfect, atoning sacrifice for sin so that humanity might have the opportunity of salvation. As He left, He instructed the disciples with the Great Commission. We have been left with the responsibility to share the gospel and, through His help and guidance, maintain the church. We are expected to keep the house in order so that at his coming He would be pleased with the state of affairs within the church.
I fear that many are sleeping on the job. We need to wake out of sleep and get busy with the work we've been left to accomplish. I have no reason to doubt that He could come for the church at any moment. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. There is a work to do, but are we fulfilling all that our Lord expects of us? If He were to come today, what would He have to say to us? Would He be pleased with our efforts? Have we honestly done all that we should? Are we genuinely living each day with full expectation of His coming?
We have been given the glorious privilege of serving the Lord and representing Him in our generation. It is an honor to be able to serve the Lord. I have to pause and wonder though if we are the ambassadors we should be. If all the world knew of Jesus is what they saw of Him in me, how much would they actually know of Him? Is there anything in my life that would reflect the Lord in such a way that the world would desire to know Him? I have been left with a work to do, and if you are a child of God, you have as well. I want to be found faithful and busy when the Lord calls for me. I pray that the church will wake from sleep and sense the urgency of our day. It is time for us to diligently labor for our Lord and seek to reach others while there is still time. This life is brief and we must work while it is day! I really can't comprehend eternity, but I know that it will be a long, long time. Each of us will spend that eternity somewhere. Church, let's commit to reaching the lost and dying so they too will have the privilege of eternity in heaven!
Preacher Chris
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